Shop.Eat.Know.Find.Enjoy Local. 

About Jay’s Candle Shop

 

Tell us a little bit about yourself, who is behind Jay’s Candle Shop?

Jay’s Candle Shop is a family run business that started on the Gold Coast.  There are three of us involved – myself and my daughters Anika and Zara.

 

How did Jay’s Candle Shop come about?

After playing around making candles for some fun, I found that I loved the entire process of candle making.  I spent years honing the science and techniques behind my craft and started creating sheer perfection.  My husband gave me the final push to share my fragranced soy with the world.

 

What is your inspiration behind Jay’s Candle Shop?

The cost of an all-natural soy candle in stores is ludicrous.  Why shouldn’t everyone enjoy such luxury?  Our inspiration is to offer a luxury, high end product at a price everyone can afford. 

 

Tell us about your product range?

We currently have 24 fragrances in our range, so theres definitely something

here for everyone.  Wooden wicks are used instead of the traditional cotton wicks, to slow the burning process down and to give a richer and bolder fragrance throw (and because they are totally awesome).  We have two very different, but sophisticated styles of jars, and they both come in a small, medium and large size. We also have the world’s best melts and the cutest travel tins.

 

What is the creative process in making handpoured candles?

Candle making comes down to formulas and experimentation, Jay’s Candles has taught me to shut down any negative thoughts and to trust my own madness – then my creativity can flow freely.  However, I can’t have a clear head without being organised.  It’s impossible to just ‘be’ in the moment when creating these amazing products without having my life, house and business in some sort of controlled order.

 

Your candles smell so great. How do you decide on a scent?

Over 100 hours of testing is involved in making each fragrance.

I can assure you that we have more failures than successes. But each

failure is one step closer to success.  Once I have found a delightful

balance of top notes, mid notes and base notes, my minature

management team step in and offer their two cents worth, and as they

have been involved in the fragrancing of soy since I have – they most

certainly do know their stuff!.  I am also lucky enough to have beautiful

friends who have no fear in telling me what they think either.

 

Where and why should people use candles?

Lighting a candle isn’t just the mindless task of lighting a wick – its a

timeless ritual. It’s taking a moment to share one flame to create another. 

A good candle will alter the ambience, energy and fragrance of a room,

which will in turn, alter the moods of those inside it. Though subtle in its

effects, its really quite a powerful notion that flame stabilised in wax with

a pleasant fragrance can change the course of someones day.  With that in mind, candles can and should be used anywhere and everywhere.

 

What is the biggest mistakes people make when using candles?(apart from forgetting to blow them out!)

The absolute biggest mistake people make is not letting the wax pool hit the edge of the jar before blowing them out.  The next time people go to light them, their candles will start tunnelling down the middle.  We use only wooden wicks here, and oxygen cannot fuel the flame when tunnelling happens, then the candle won’t burn.  Let your wax pool hit the side of the jar before blowing it out! ALWAYS!!

 

A typical day for you involves?

Running around the gold coast like a mad woman, chasing around after three kids and running the business.  I squeeze as much as I can into every minute of my day.  I schedule two full days a week to make candles and the rest is of my week falls into place around it.  Occasionally, there are beautiful moments when the world stops and I get a chance to love and appreciate all that I have.

 

What is the best part about working on Jay’s Candle Shop?

The creative process.  I love to make candles.

 

…..and the hardest?

Finding balance between my work and my family.  I have three kids who have enormous personalities each, and making sure everyone’s needs are met ususally means that mine come last

 

You are a regular at markets across the Coast, what do you love about

selling at the markets?

100% the people I meet.  I have met some truly amazing folks on this ride. 

From customers, to other creatives, to the foodies and promoters of these

great events.  There are so many amazingly gifted people here on the

Coast. I love my customers the most though, and do all this for them.

 

What are your dreams for Jay’s Candle Shop? Where would you like to

see Jay’s Candle Shop in 12 months/ 5 years?

I would love to see Jay’s Candles in-store over seas.  I am having my

fragrances reviewed in the UK right now – and its an exciting prospect to think

that my little candle shop could send me to the other side of the world.  In five

years, I hope to be doing what I am doing.  I can easily spend the rest of my life

creating candles.

 

What advice do you have for others who are dreaming about starting their

own small business?

Do something every day that involves your passion.  Jump in with your whole

heart and appreciate every success, and learn from every failure.

 

Most importantly, how can people get their hands on your products?

Our website is easiest for sales when im not taking the Mobile Candle Shop on the road.  If your on the Gold Coast,  Brisbane or Tweed – check in with the website or our instagram page to see where we are heading next and come and have a look at our range. 

 

How can people connect with you? (website, facebook, pintrest, etc)

Facebook: Jays Candle Shop

Instagram: jayscandleshop

Website: jayscandleshop.com

 

About you

 

What is your work/life background?

I’m a Sydney original and worked in admin for years, but only because I had no idea what I wanted to do.  I figured it out at 36 years old and havent looked back.

 

How do you incorporate candles into your everyday living?

I am test burning daily, which that wherever I am, everything either smells awesome or not. There are always boxes of candles around the house, so trippi

 

When your working what music do you love listening to? 

I Spotify, so I have all the music I want at the touch of a finger.  My Spotify

account has everything from Jeff Buckly, The XX, Nirvana, and some

very private that appear at the worst possible moments.

 

What did you want to be when you grew up?

Even in my early thirties, I would boggle my brain trying to figure it out. 

It blows my mind how we were suppose to know what to do with the rest

of our lives at 18 years old!.  I found my passion in my mid-thirties, but

happily acknowledge that all the office and administration experience I

gathered through my life is useful in having a business.

 

Who do you look up to? Who inspires you?

Wow, lots of people, but it’s the people close to me and not any public

figures.  My parents.  My mother who taught me everything I know

about raising children, and my father who was so organically spiritual and

had so much common sense about life and people.  My girlfriends, who

are all hand selected for the strength, compassion and humour. And in

particular, those that slow me down, and force me to take the time for myself.

 

When your not working on Jay’s Candle Shop , where would we find you?

My husband works away from home, so when he’s back, its important for the five of us to be together and be a family.  But when he’s away, my free time is spent with the kids and the people I love.

 

Where is your favourite place to visit on the Gold Coast?

The beaches.  I find clarity, inspriation and a whole lot of grounding there.  Any of the gold coast beaches are stunningly beautiful and the best in the world.  We are so blessed to be living here.

 

Favourite place to eat on the Gold Coast?

Hands down, Beni Hana’s at The Marriott

 

Favourite coffee/juice shop?

Blackboard at Varsity Lakes do the best coffee in the world. 

 

Favourite quote you live by?

“Everything will be ok in the end.  If its not ok, its not the end”

John Lennon